Network Team Lead: Office of Innovative Technologies

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is seeking three Network Services Team Leads to lead and manage respective teams responsible for maintaining and improving the university's wired and wireless network systems. Each of these three positions will provide a specific network specialization: ranging in networking operations, network engineering & security, and cloud network engineering. These positions play a vital role in ensuring fast, secure, and reliable network connectivity that supports research, education, and administrative excellence across campus.

These positions are senior-level experts in deploying, managing, and evolving wired and wireless network projects and solutions across a production network enterprise architecture. Supervises and manages a work team under the direction of senior staff for large scale projects, new implementations, system upgrades, etc. Operates independently for all sizes of systems, networks, and/or databases. Designs, collects, analyzes, and creates professional written and oral reports to senior staff. Focuses on short to intermediate strategic priorities within the network transport function and contributes to the identification of areas for evolution. Work is completed with minimal oversight with a high level of accuracy and quality. Must have the ability to learn, implement, and operate new technologies.

• Lead and supervise a technical team that supports wired and wireless network infrastructure.
• Manage daily team operations, including task assignments, prioritization, and escalation.
• Promote consistent processes and communication across all network activities.
• Oversee wired and wireless network projects through discovery, design, implementation, and closure phases.
• Research and deploy new networking technologies and tools to enhance university systems.
• Coordinate with departments and vendors for major network deployments and upgrades.
• Analyze technical data to assess network risks and recommend improvements.
• Maintain accurate documentation of network designs, configurations, and inventories.
• Develop solutions to meet evolving university network needs and new technology trends.
• Respond to and resolve network service requests efficiently through the ticketing system.
• Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical staff during troubleshooting.
• Monitor and interpret network performance and telemetry data to identify issues.
• Facilitate and participate in meetings regarding network operations and readiness.
• Collaborate with on- and off-campus partners during planned or emergency outages.
• Ensure network services meet high standards of reliability, scalability, and security.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Associate degree
• Experience: Eight (8) years of direct industry-related experience as a network engineer or leading a technical team.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Strong ability to work independently of direct supervision and in line with strategic direction.
• Intermediate ability to manage projects.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Intermediate working knowledge of networking concepts: WAN/LAN, DNS/DHCP, Layer 3/2, TCP/IP, Wi-Fi, firewalls, and security policies such as access control lists.
• Ability to glean network requirements from users, technical and conceptual drawings.
• Strong working knowledge of network planning tools and processes: Aruba Central/VisualRF, databases, Microsoft Visio.
  Intermediate working knowledge of network infrastructure and supporting systems: routers, switches, wireless controllers, wireless access points, IDS/IPS, gateways, firewalls, NAC, virtual private clouds, structured cabling.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Professional certifications such as PMP, CCNA, CCNP, ACMA, AZ-900, AZ-700, CWNA, or CWDP
• Experience: Experience in large-scale campus area wired and wireless networks environments. Experience with hybrid cloud infrastructure. Experience as a project manager. Experience in a higher education environment.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Ability to effectively perform in a hybrid environment.
• Intermediate working knowledge of automation tools and their application to this role: scripting, API integration, authentication, version control systems, and others.
• Intermediate working knowledge of network diagnostic, monitoring, and performance analysis tools and techniques: SolarWinds, netflow, Ekahau, Wire Shark, fault isolation, trace route, Nmap, HPe User Experience Insight, packet capture, and others.
• Working knowledge of Cisco, Aruba, Arista, Fortinet, and Juniper network products.
• Experience providing enterprise network support in a higher education environment.
• Basic knowledge of network automation tools such as Ansible, Terraform, GitLab.
• Basic knowledge of open-source platforms such as Linux and FreeRADIUS.
  Basic knowledge of major cloud service providers: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform.

Work Location:

• This is an on-campus position in Knoxville, Tennessee with some flexibility for hybrid/remote work.

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR16 ( )
• Anticipated hiring range: $100,000-$115,000
• Regular Full Time Exempt
• Benefits include: ( )
• Generous paid leave , accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days
• Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses
• Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods

Application Instructions

All applicants must upload the following attachments. The documents should directly address the required qualifications.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community